GB2266586A - Eye-level grills - Google Patents

Abstract

A downwardly-directed heat source provided in a cavity (i.e. a grill) 20 is arranged in an integrated unit with a cooker hood 10. The integrated units are designed such that the cooker hood extracts heat and/or fumes from in front and behind the grill cavity. A heat deflector baffle 24 is provided extending down from the roof of the grill cavity at the front thereof. The walls of the grill cavity may be double skinned with heat insulating material between the skins. The circulating fan of the cooker hood operates for all of the time that the grill is in use or some of the time in response to a thermostat. The integrated unit enables the eye-level grill to be installed in a fitted kitchen environment. A hinged and slidable cover panel may be provided such that the integrated unit resembles a storage cupboard in the fitted kitchen. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in eve level grills The present invention relates to domestic grills, and in particular to eye level grills used in fitted kitchens. I L is to be understood that in the context of the present invention the term "grill" is used in the usual Eritish sense, i.e. it relates to an appliance in which a downwardly directed heat source is used.

It has been known to provide free standing domestic cookers, both gas and electric, which comprise an oven, a number of hobs arranged approximately at kitchen work surface level, and an approximately eye level grill above the hobs and mounted on a back panel extending upwards from the rear of the main part of the cooker. In such a cooker, the oven, hobs and grill may all be used simultaneously and are all independently controllable. The positioning of the grill approximately at eye level enabled easy access to the grill and also made it possible to monitor cooking of items under the grill which typically is relatively rapid and requires close supervision.

Nowadays the storage cupboards, work surfaces and appliances of a kitchen are usually installed in one operation as a so-called "fitted kitchen". Problems arise when trying to provide a grill in a fitted kitchen environment.

In a fitted kitchen it is known to provide "slot-in" cookers in which the hob is level with the top of the worktop and the grill is contained in the oven beneath, or in the case of a double cavity cooker in the top oven or grill compartment.

It is most generally known to provide a single cavity built-in/built-under oven which is installed in an oven housing carcase below the worktop (a separate hob is fitted into the worktop) a grill is located in the oven cavity and the user is instructed either to grill with the oven door open, with or without a heat deflector fitted, or to grill with the door shut. Such cookers typically are used in fitted kitchens which have wall mounted cupboards approximately at eye level extending at least along one wall and close to or above the cooker position.

The presence of such cupboards has meant that the conventional grill has not been placed at eye level because of the fear that the heat generated by the grill would cause damage to the cupboard around it.

The siting of grills in either slot-in oven cavities or in built-in oven cavities as described have certain distinct disadvantages.

Firstly is is not possible to use both the oven and the grill at the same time. This is because the two methods of cooking are incompatible and is generally ensured by arranging the controls such that it is not possible to turn on both the oven and grill simultaneously. Secondly it is inconvenient if the oven door must remain open during grilling to allow excess heat generated by the grill to escape and also because it is difficult to monitor the cooking of items at the grill level, which is now below the level of a typical kitchen work surface. The necessity for leaving the oven door open may also be dangerous as it may cause an unexpected obstruction, and if a heat deflector is supplied then monitoring of the grilling is made even more difficult, and the problem of storing the heat deflector can become a problem.Thirdly, grilling of items within the oven space can cause the oven to become dirty quicker than it would otherwise and hence it causes the oven to require cleaning more often, and the grill prevents easy cleaning of the oven ceiling.

It is a further known general practice to provide "hoods" above cookers of the second general type described above. These hoods are units which are positioned above a cooker and include a fan which when activated moves the air so as to remove heat and fumes produced by the cooker and particularly the hobs, from the cooking area. Extraction of smoke from the grilling process is however inefficient because of the great distance to the hood from a grill in the oven space as described above. These hoods may simply be arranged to generate air circulation within the kitchen to remove heat and fumes from the cooking area. Alternatively they may be associated with a duct arranged to remove the heat and fumes from the kitchen completely.

Either of these types may be provided as part of a unit which may also include some cupboard space and which is designed to match other cupboards etc in the kitchen.

The present invention provides an apparatus comprising a downwardly directed heat source mounted in a cavity, means for moving air in the vicinity of the cavity and control means arranged to control the operation of the grill and the air moving means, the control means being adapted to selectively activate the air moving means when the grill is in use as necessary to reduce the temperature in the vicinity of the cavity.

Thus there is provided a hood and a grill integrated into a single unit. This may be installed such that when the unit is positioned for use above a cooker the grill is approximately at eye level. The arrangement of the invention also includes a control arrangement adapted such that when the grill is in use the hood is activated te remove sufficient of the heat generated by the grill from the vicinity of the grill so that damage does not occur to the hood and/or adjacent cupboards as a result of such heat.

It will be appreciated that the extent to which the cooker hood must be operated while the grill is in use will depend upon the amount of heat that issues from the grill cavity. Preferred embodiments of the invention incorporate features which reduce the amount of heat issuing from the grill cavity. This has the advantage that the proportion of the time that the cooker hood is operational can be reduced.

In particular1 in prefered embodiments of the invention the cooker hood is arranged to receive heat and/or fumes from the front and the back of the grill cavity. It is also advantageous that a baffle should be provided extending downward from the top of the front opening of the grill cavity. Furthermore, additional heat reduction can be achieved by forming the walls of the grill cavity of two skins with heat insulating material therebetween. It has been found that in an embodiment of the invention incorporating all of these preferred features the temperatures experienced by the cooker hood are lower than the temperatures experienced when a cooker hood alone is used at the same height above a conventional hob.

The invention may be embodied by a simple wall mounted unit such that the hood simply circulates air within the kitchen in order to keep the temperature of the hood down, or it may have a chimney or duct associated with the hood for extraction of heat and fumes.

The grill of the invention may be an electric grill or a gas powered grill. An electric grill may comprise any of known electric grill elements, either singly or in combination, e.g. sheathed elements, coiled elements, infra red or halogen elements. A gas grill may be fuelled by natural, town or bottled gas such as Propane or Butane.

The control system may include a variety of valves, switches, electronics and necessary safety devices, which may offer infinitely variable grill control, pre-selected, or one position heat settings for the one or each grill element. The controls may be provided on the unit itself or on an associated cooker or hob with which the unit is designed to be used, or in a remote location.

The invention may also include lights in the underside which are arranged to illuminate the hobs or working area below the grill.

The invention may also be integrated into a unit which matches other cupboards etc. in the kitchen.

This can be achieved by providing a moveable front panel which shields the device of the present invention from view when not in use. The pattern on that panel can be adapted to match the surrounding cupboards. In integrated units of this type it is important to ensure that the panel is moveable to a position sufficiently far away from the grill cavity so as to escape damage when the grill is operational. Embodiments of the present invention provide an integrated unit with a latching front panel adapted to be moveable to the desired extent.

In most fitted kitchens a cornice is arranged running along the top of the storage cupboards. The presence of such a cornice can impede the desired movement of the front panel. A further embodiment of the invention is adapted to enable the front panel to move along a path which avoids contact with the cornice.

In order that the present invention be more fully understood various preferred embodiments will be described by way of example in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention using a moveable front panel; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation illustrating the functioning of the third embodiment; Figure 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention using another arrangement of moveable front panel; and Figure 6 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the ivnention.

The Figures illustrate various embodiments of the invention all of which combine the functions of a cooker hood/extractcr with a grill. The cooker hood may be activated independently of the grill to remove heat and/or fumes generated by cooking. The grill may be used at the same time as the oven of such a cooker and hence avoids the inconvenience discussed above of the prior art in which only one or the other could be used at a given time The grill of the present invention is also approximately at eye level.

Furthermore, problems associated with the generation of heat by a grill close to cupboards, e.g.

in a fitted kitchen, are avoided because the control system in this invention is arranged such that excess heat generated by the grill is removed by the hood.

This also avoids damage to the hood itself due to heat from the grill. In preferred embodiments of the invention heat reduction measures are incorporated into the unit such that the control means need not switch on the hood for such a great proportion of the time.

Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention which is designed to be mounted on a wall such that it is positioned above a cooker. The embodiment comprises a hood section 10 and a grill section 20. The hood section 10 has an air inlet 12 and an outlet or outlets 14. Within the hood section, and not shown in Figure 1, are common elements of such a hood such as a fan arranged to draw air in through inlet 12 and expel it through outlet 14 utilizing a filter arranged to remove odours from the circulating air. The hood section may be activated independently of the grill section if desired when the cooker beneath is in use.

The grill section 20 comprises a grill cavity 22 having arranged therein grill elements (not shown) and runners 26 arranged to receive a grill pan 28. It is also advantageous to provide a downwardly extending heat deflector or baffle, 24 to divert the flow of heat and fumes out of the grill cavity. The diverted heat and fumes mingle with cooler air from the room that is being drawn up by the cookerhood. Preferably the roof and/or walls of the grill cavity are double skinned with a layer of material such as mineral wool between the skins.

Adjacent to the grill section is control panel 30, which includes control means to operate the hood section and grill. The controls are arranged such that the hood section may be activated independently of the grill but whenever the grill is in use the hood section is activated to remove excess heat generated by the grill. This may be achieved for instance by providing a first control knob which activates the hood section alone and a second control knob which activates both the hood section and the grill, or by providing a single multi-position control knob which may be turned to a first position in which the hood section is activated and may then be turned to a further position or positions to control the grill.

The control means may be arranged such that the hood section is 'on' continuously while the grill is in use. Alternatively the control means may be arranged to activate the hood section intermittently while the grill is in use in order to remove sufficient heat to achieve the above object. In the latter case a thermostat may be incorporated into the control system.

Above the grill section 20 and below the hood section inlet 12 is a further cavity 16. This permits the inlet 12 to extend the full depth of the unit and therefore enables the hood section to remove heat and fumes from above, in front of and behind the grill section. This is advantageous even when, as here, the back of the grill cavity is closed by a wall. The height of cavity 16 may be altered to change the overall size of the unit if necessary for fitting in particular locations. Cavity 1 may also be suitable for the warming of crockery etc.

The first embodiment may also include a light or lights 40 in the underside of the grill section arranged to shine light onto the hob beneath. The light or lights 40 may also be controlled from control panel 30.

Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention which comprises many of the same parts as the first embodiment. These parts are indicated by the same reference numerals as in Figure 1 and will not be described in detail again.

The second embodiment is provided with a chimney or duct 18 in place of outlet 14 from the hood section 10. This chimney or duct 18 is arranged to lead out of the kitchen in which the item is installed, either through a wall or the ceiling to expel the air drawn in through inlet 12 from the kitchen. Thus the hood section 12, which is arranged to be activated whenever the grill 20 is in use, removes excess heat from the vicinity of the grill and ensures that the hood and any cupboards etc. in the vicinity do not overheat.

Figure 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention which also comprises many of the same parts as the first embodiment and which again will not be described in detail.

The third embodiment of the invention-is integrated into a cabinet which is designed to match other cupboards etc. in the kitchen in which it is installed. The cabinet has a door 50 which may be moved to one of three positions at any given time to allow various functions of the unit. Figure 3 illustrates the door 50 in the "open out" position. This allows use of the hood section 10 and the position of the door 50 allows access to the inlet 12 of the hood section. The third embodiment may be provided either with an outlet 14 in the top of the unit as in the first embodiment or with a duct 18 as in the second embodiment. Door 50 is mounted on a backing panel 56 which is itself integral with, or attached to, wedge-shaped side panels 55.

The door 50 may also rotate about line A-A to move to its "closed" position. In this position the door 50 is flush against the front of the unit and conceals the grill section 20 and the control panel 30.

So far the described structure and function of the door assembly is the same as in known arrangements used for concealing cooker hoods in a fitted kitchen.

However, according to the present invention the door panel 50 is longer than the doors of the known arrangements because it extends down an additional distance to conceal the grill section 20. Thus, even with the door 50 in the "open out" position it is difficult to gain access to controls 30 of the grill and to the cavity 16 above the grill. Accordingly the door 50 of the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4 is adapted to be moveable to a third position.

The third position of door 50 is illustrated in Figure 4a which is a schematic diagram of the third embodiment. In this "open up and out" position the door 50 is rotated as in the first position to allow access to inlet 12, but is also slid upwards to permit access to the grill section 20 and control panel 30. The door should be in this third position when the grill is in use. When the door is in this position, the hood section 12, which is arranged to be activated whenever the grill 20 is in use, removes excess heat from the vicinity of the grill and ensures that the hood and any cupboards etc. in the vicinity do not overheat.

Figure 4b is an exploded diagram of the arrangement shown in Figure 4a and illustrates the working of the sliding of door 50. As shown, door 50 has a first pair of runners 52 which co-operate with a second pair of runners 54 provided on backing panel 56.

When door 50 is mounted on backing panel 56, runners 52, 54 allow it to slide into the open up and out position.

There are also provided a catch 58 and a latch mechanism 59 which retain door 50 in this position. Door 50 may be retained on backing panel 56 by any convenient means.

For example, stops may be provided at the ends of runners 54. Preferably backing panel 56 is a steel plate onto which the wooden or laminate furniture door 50 is mounted.

It is a common requirement for a fitted kitchen to have a cornice fitted along the top of the wall units, this cornice is a decorative wooden moulding. In the situation where the grill/hood is to be installed in a kitchen with a cornice, then the arrangement as shown in Figure 4a will not work because the door will not slide up far enough before it hits the cornice fitted along the cupboard tops.

A solution to this problem is shown in Figures 5a) and b). As the wooden door slides upwards, then the top of the door automatically moves outwards to clear the cornice. This is achieved by fitting a small rotating lever 60 at the top of the backing panel 56, between the catch 59 and the backing panel.

Fig. 5 shows two positions of the door 50/backing panel 56. In the first position illustrated in Fig. 5a), door 50 is flush across the opening of the cabinet 61 of the cooker hood and lies against backing panel 56. As the door is pulled outward, rollers (not shown) on the side panels 55 ride along tracks 62, 63 in the side walls of the cabinet. This causes the top edge of the backing panel 56 to describe an arc. When the backing panel reaches the outward limit of travel it lies in the position shown in Fig.

5b).

Simultaneously with the above-described motion of the backing panel, the door 50 swings outward and upward to reach the position shown in Fig. 5b). Pivots at each end of the linkage 60 and a roller 58 at the foot of panel 56 facilitate the movement. Preferably a latching mechanism (not shown) is provided to enable the door to be retained in the open out and up position.

The arrows indicate the direction of heat flow/air flow when the cooker hood is activated and the door is in the open out and up position. The air filter of the cooker hood is indicated at 67.

A number of variations may be made in the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the rollers and tracks 62 and 63 can be replaced by other devices for ensuring that the backing panel 56 moves along the desired path. Furthermore, the roller 58 against which door 50 slides may be replaced by other means, such as a further short rotating lever arm.

Figure 6 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the invention which again comprises many of the same parts as the first embodiment and which will not be described in detail.

The hood section 10 of the fifth embodiment is in the form of a canopy hood. This has an inlet 12 and may either have an outlet 14 similar to that in the first embodiment or may be connected to a duct as in the second embodiment.

Because this invention arranges for excess heat to be removed from the vicinity of the grill when it is in use, the grill and hood may be manufactured from materials conventionally used in the manufacture of ovens, grills, hoods and the like.

Claims (17)

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus comprising a downwardly directed heat source mounted in a cavity, means for moving air in the vicinity of said cavity, control means arranged to control the operation of the heat source and the air moving means, the control means being arranged to selectively activate the air moving means when the heat source is activated whereby to maintain a low temperature in the vicinity of the cavity.

2 An apparatus as claimed in claim I, wherein the control means is arranged such that the air moving means is activated continuously whenever the heat source is in use.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means is arranged such that the air moving means is activated intermittently while the heat source is in use.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air moving means is arranged to move air received from in front of and behind the cavity.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the air moving means is arranged to circulate air.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the air moving means is arranged to remove air.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, having ducting associated therewith arranged to lead air away from the vicinity of the heat source.

8. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cavity housing the heat source has a mouth at the front thereof and a baffle is provided extending downward from a top edge of said mouth.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the the walls of the cavity are double skinned and heat insulating material is provided between the skins.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, adapted to be mounted on a wall such that the grill is approximately at eye level.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 adapted for installation in a fitted kitchen, and further comprising a front panel moveable between a first position and at least one further position, wherein in the first position the front panel conceals the heat source and in a second position the lower edge of the panel is spaced away from the cavity.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the front panel is moveable to a third position in which the panel is displaced upward relative to the cavity with the lower edge of the panel spaced away from the cavity.

13. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 adapted for installation in a fitted kitchen comprising a cornice running along the top edge of fitted kitchen units, and further comprising a front panel moveable between a first position and at least one further position, wherein in the first position the front panel conceals the heat source, in a second position the front panel is displaced upward relative to the cavity with the lower edge of the panel spaced away from the cavity and the top edge of the panel is adapted to swing outward during motion from the first position to the second position whereby to avoid impact on the cornice.

14. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the heat source is an electric grill.

15. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the heat source is a gas grill.

16. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims I to 15, wherein the air moving means may also be activated independently of the heat source.

17. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with respect to Fig I, Fig. 2, Figs. 3 and 4, Fig 5 or Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.